And if any grow weak in spirit and retreat from this society, and
afterwards repent and wish again to join, he shall be permitted to
do so on condition of repeating the words, "Oh, ah!" "Lor!" "Such
is life," "That's cheerful," "He's a lively man, is Mr. So-and-so"
ten times over. For these are refreshing and beautiful words and
mean much (!), they are the emblems of such talent.

And any members are at liberty to have small meetings among
themselves, especially to tea, whereat they may enjoy the ever fresh
and pleasant luxury of scandal and mischief-making, and prepare
their accusations and taunts for the next general meeting; and this
is not only permitted but enjoined and recommended strongly to all
the members.

And sentences shall be written for the training of any young hand
who wishes to become one of us, since none can hope to arrive at
once at the pitch of perfection to which the society has brought the
art. And if that any should be heard of his own free will and
invention uttering one or more of these sentences and by these means
indicate much talent in the required direction, he shall be waited
on by a committee of the club and induced, if possible, to join us,
for he will be an acquisition; and the sentences required are such
as: "I think so-and-so a very jolly fellow, indeed I don't know a
man in the college I like better than so-and-so, but I don't care
twopence about him, at least it is all the same to me whether he
cuts me or not."

The beauty of this sentence is not at first appreciable, for though
self-deceit and self-satisfaction are both very powerfully
demonstrated in it, and though these are some of the society's most